PUTNAM VALLEY – A number of local Putnam and Northern Westchester
County officials and Senator Gregory Ball (R-Patterson), chairman of the
Senate Homeland Security Committee, criticized NYSEG for its communications
efforts during Hurricane Irene.

Yorktown Councilman Nicholas Bianco said an investigation into the utility
companies was needed to provide constructive criticism. “I believe
they did not prepare well,” he said. “We need to find out
what went wrong, and determine how we can improve it.”

Putnam Valley Councilwoman Wendy Whetsel said the state needs to “revamp
our communication so people are much more confident with what’s
going on, so they see an end in sight.” She said there are “better
ways of keeping our residents informed.”

Carmel Town Supervisor Kenneth Schmitt said out-of-state utility crews
brought in to restore power “should’ve been in state when
the storm hit.” He also suggested gas-powered message boards should
be used to communicate with the public rather than the Internet, which
families couldn’t be accessed by people without power.

Ball also said the dry ice provided “was a drop in the bucket compared
to what was needed.”

Ball called for a Senate hearing to “drill down into response management
and communications failures and shortfalls following Hurricane Irene.”

NYSEG on Saturday evening said all but 300 of its customers in its Brewster
division have had their electricity restored. All customers in its Liberty
division have their lights back on.

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